Defence test-fires two Prithvi-2 missiles in quick succession

The medium range, surface-to-surface Prithvi-2 missiles being test fired from mobile launchers at the Integrated Test Range, Balasore off the Orissa coast.

Our Bureau

Hyderabad, Oct. 12

Indian defence forces launched, on Monday, in quick succession two Prithvi-2 missiles and demonstrated their ability to destroy targets at defined ranges.

The medium-range, surface-to-surface Prithvi-2 missiles were test fired minutes separating them from mobile launchers at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Balasore off the Orissa coast around 10.30 a.m.

Claiming to be successful, sources in the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) told Business Line that the two missiles were aimed at different targets which were located 350 km away. The range of missiles is between 150 and 350 km.

Guided by the advanced inertial guidance systems developed indigenously and integrated into the Prithvi, the missiles hit the targets within the range of an accepted probability of error. Two Naval ships, monitored the flight path, trajectory and hit, they said.

The 9-metre tall Prithvi missile has three variants, which are designed to meet the demands of the Army, Air Force and Navy, with the capability to carry a payload of 500 kg, including nuclear warheads. Already, the missile has been inducted into the forces.

The test firing in succession, done for the first time by the users was witnessed by the new Scientific Advisor to the Raksha Mantri, Dr V.K. Saraswat, Director, Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), Mr Avinash Chander, Commander of Strategic Forces, Lt. Gen. B.S. Nagpal and the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL), Maj. Gen. (Retd) Ravi Khetrapal.

(This article was published in the Business Line print edition dated October 13, 2009)

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